Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 99918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“You look nice today,” Tristan said quietly, smiling as Dylan’s cheeks grew red.
“Is that why you made everyone leave?”
“No, of course not. I could have just told you later, but that whole look’s perfect on you. The hair’s hot. Pinstripes fit your frame remarkably well. You look taller, more intimidating. Great look for negotiations or the cover of GQ. You could do both.” Tristan scooted closer. “Did you get my flowers?” he asked even quieter.
“I did. Thank you, but that was a risky move,” Dylan said, clearly ignoring the compliment.
“I wrote and sealed the card myself. What did you do with the flowers?” Tristan leaned forward, then moved in a little more, smelling Dylan’s cologne. That had Dylan pushing back in his chair.
“I gave them to the concierge that helped me this morning,” Dylan answered and then backtracked. “I didn’t think I’d be in my room very much and didn’t want them to go to waste.”
“I figured you’d do something like that. It’s why I picked those colors. So that means you’re coming with me tonight?” Tristan asked, his eyes still focused directly on Dylan’s.
“We’ll see how things go today. I’m not sure about all this. You lowballed me and I was just reading about the staffing…” Dylan started, but Tristan lifted a hand to Dylan’s lips to stop his words. He let his fingers linger as he spoke.
“I don’t want to talk business yet. I honestly was only informed of the changes to personnel when I walked in today. From this point forward, you and I will decide how this sale goes, no one else, but before we do, I want to put personal before business because they are two separate entities between us. Will you please go with me tonight? I need to cancel some things if you’re not coming,” Tristan added at Dylan’s skeptical look.
“Are you still thinking about adding someone else?” Dylan asked, but his look never changed.
“I’m flexible, but I’ve made that arrangement.” Tristan nodded, sitting back in the seat.
“All right. I’ll go, but I don’t want to be pushed into anything. If I just watch, everyone needs to be good with that,” Dylan advised, stating his terms clearly so there was no confusion.
“Fair enough, but it’s only a threesome when three people participate.” Tristan laughed.
“We’ll see. I’m way outside my comfort zone with all this. Will he come from that club last night? He won’t ever say a word that I was there, right?” Dylan asked. He had that panicked edge again.
“I swear your secret’s safe. I give you my word,” Tristan soothed. Leaning forward, he lowered his voice. “But you’re a pro at sex. My ass isn’t even a little bit sore today. You were perfect.” Tristan winked, smiling at those red cheeks and lust-filled, hooded eyes that replaced the worry.
“Now, on to business. I haven’t discussed this with my team, but I’ve been watching Secret for a while now. What’s it going to take for me to get your company?” Tristan asked, and eased back in his seat, waiting for the answer.
“I like some of the details you’ve outlined, but the money isn’t right and my biggest concern lies with my staff. They’ve been very good to me,” Dylan stated.
“Yes, they have. My team doesn’t think we need them.” Tristan could see that might not have been the best thing to say. Dylan got his back up right there, immediately dropping walls between them. “Wait a second. I don’t see it like that. I’ve never had multiple facilities in the same country. I like to keep my company together if that makes sense. I’m certainly not saying it’s the right way of things, but it has been my way. But we’ve failed where you’ve succeeded,” Tristan explained, getting more comfortable in his chair.
“Here’s what I would like to propose to you. I’ll pay twenty percent above your asking price, in full. I want your staff, but understand I’m not agreeing to keep every single one of them for the long-term. I run a lean ship, but for the next year, every single employee of your company will stay employed. If you agree, I’ve decided to continue to run Secret from your Dallas location. My people here need to get a taste of what it takes to run a successful social media network. Your people can help us gain that knowledge.”
Dylan looked surprised. He’d totally blown the proposal out of the water. It was confirmed when Dylan closed the folder and pushed the file away.
“I purchased the high-rise where we run our operations,” Dylan stated absently, staring down at the table.
“We’ll rent the space from you or I’ll buy it. Whatever you want.”
“David has a firm knowledge of the inner workings of my company.” Dylan was still in that thoughtful mode, contemplating the offer. “He’d make a good leader for that division of Wilder.”
“I can see that. He’s my Landry.” Tristan chuckled, hooking a thumb at the frosted-glass door. He could see the shape of a man standing right outside the door. “He’s gotta be crazy pissed off from being excluded from this conversation.”
Dylan closed his eyes and pressed his thumbs against his temples, trying to catch up with everything being tossed his way. Wilder’s first offer had come in low with most of his staff being terminated. Now he stood to make twenty percent more on the sale of Secret than he’d planned, money up front and in full, while keeping every one of his staff employed in Dallas. No relocation of anyone. Granted, he didn’t run in these circles, but what in the hell just happened?
The technology was his exclusive project. He’d developed the software by himself. If he went through with this, he would be giving away his concept, but that was inevitable. He reminded himself he didn’t have the resources to grow the company more than what they already had. Secret needed deeper pockets to handle the load of subscribers and to go international.
“I’ll give a tentative agreement. I want my legal team involved before a final acceptance,” Dylan said as he looked over at Tristan.